Is Thailand Getting Too Expensive?

[Forethat]

let's keep on arguing. the markets are dull and nothing much happens on the currencies front.

Sure.

You have kids? I do.

Planning to keep them in school? I do.

Thought of a school that offers the equivalent level of education to what they'd get in your home country? I have.

How much have you budgeted for? I'll reveal my budget at the end of this post.

On wikipedia, the following can be read:

List of most expensive cities for expatriate employees

This list does not account for cost-of-living savings accrued to local citizens through government-subsidized housing, health care, and education, differences in taxation, and many other factors irrelevant to expatriates. Cost of living may be much higher for expatriates than for local residents in a developing country, especially if expatriates expect a standard of living similar to a developed country.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_most_...riate_employees

Pay special attention to the sentence in bold.

Thailand can be very cheap, I pointed that out at a very stage in this thread. Obviously, you didn't read that part. What I also wrote, was that if you expect to live at the same standard as you did in your home country, this can be a very expensive place. We can continue to argue about this, but the sad thruth is that I have clearly demonstrated and provided evidence that there are several areas where you will end up paying a lot more money if you purchase this item in Thailand compared to your home country, the only way you'de be able to prevent paying the expensive price, is if you opt for another alternative, something you have admitted to do yourself, thanks for that.

The budget for my kids education is 14.400.000 baht. University not included (I plan for a uni overseas, THIS will also be expensive, probably more expensive than in Thailand). In my home country that cost would have been zero. Zip. Nada. In fact, even University is free.

Edited March 16, 2010 by Forethat

[Naam]

let's keep on arguing. the markets are dull and nothing much happens on the currencies front.

Sure. You have kids? I do.

Planning to keep them in school? I do.

Thought of a school that offers the equivalent level of education to what they'd get in your home country? I have.

How much have you budgeted for? I'll reveal my budget at the end of this post.

not applicable, i don't have children. also, i don't think that any foreigner having a foreign wife and foreign children would consider moving to Thailand except if he is transferred by his company. the hurdles are just too high.

p.s. i am still waiting for your comments on the income tax situation which makes Thailand for me and a dozen others i know not only dàmn cheap but we are living here free of charge as all our expenses are paid for by the dough which we don't hand over to our various taxmen.

[Abrak]

The budget for my kids education is 14.400.000 baht. University not included (I plan for a uni overseas, THIS will also be expensive, probably more expensive than in Thailand). In my home country that cost would have been zero. Zip. Nada. In fact, even University is free.

Well it is horses for courses.

In my home country the education is free but it is worth considerably less than that.

Actually living in Thailand has made absolutely no difference to where they went to school (apart from some air flights). At least their school fees are paid out of untaxed income rather than taxed income which makes it considerably cheaper.

I do readily admit that if your budget for your kids education is not getting you anything better than they could receive for free elsewhere, then that is a considerable cost.

P.S. Potentially the cost of having a wife can be very much more expensive in your home country.

Edited March 16, 2010 by Abrak

[IanForbes]

It's getting so expensive I had to cut down from 3 girls a week to only 2. Of course the two that are left now come more often.

[Naam]

"Cost of living may be much higher for expatriates than for local residents in a developing country, especially if expatriates expect a standard of living similar to a developed country."

yawwnnn... Wiki can't judge my standard of living but i can. and i know i wouldn't be able to uphold my present living standard in a "civilised" country without spending a multiple.

[Ulysses G.]

Thailand can be very cheap, I pointed that out at a very stage in this thread. Obviously, you didn't read that part. What I also wrote, was that if you expect to live at the same standard as you did in your home country, this can be a very expensive place.

If you don't adapt to being abroad - and continue to buy the same brands and the same things - this may be true, but adapting to different circumstances is a normal part of life no matter where you are and it is quite easy to save a considerable of money by doing so. Life goes on. Things change.

[citizen33]

Obviously there are swings and roundabouts. Many things are still cheaper in Thailand. I'd say a trolley full of groceries from Tesco is at best about the same as the UK. The two items that worry me most are (a ) a decent education for my son, who is presently at school in the UK and (b ) comprehensive health insurance after 65, which could be very tricky if any pre-existing conditions emerge before then. One thing I regret is that I didn't maintain (basic) coverage under the social security system when I had the chance.

Edited March 16, 2010 by citizen33

[Forethat]

let's keep on arguing. the markets are dull and nothing much happens on the currencies front.

Sure. You have kids? I do.

Planning to keep them in school? I do.

Thought of a school that offers the equivalent level of education to what they'd get in your home country? I have.

How much have you budgeted for? I'll reveal my budget at the end of this post.

not applicable, i don't have children. also, i don't think that any foreigner having a foreign wife and foreign children would consider moving to Thailand except if he is transferred by his company. the hurdles are just too high.

p.s. i am still waiting for your comments on the income tax situation which makes Thailand for me and a dozen others i know not only dàmn cheap but we are living here free of charge as all our expenses are paid for by the dough which we don't hand over to our various taxmen.

Fair enough, if you dont have kids you dont dont need to cover the cost.

As for you taxation, you simply have to read my posts one more time. It's there in black and white. Read again.

[Forethat]

Thailand can be very cheap, I pointed that out at a very stage in this thread. Obviously, you didn't read that part. What I also wrote, was that if you expect to live at the same standard as you did in your home country, this can be a very expensive place.

If you don't adapt to being abroad - and continue to buy the same brands and the same things - this may be true, but adapting to different circumstances is a normal part of life no matter where you are and it is quite easy to save a considerable of money by doing so. Life goes on. Things change.

Give the man a cigar!

[neverdie]

Did he say he was going to spend 14.4 million baht on education for his children?

How many children does he have?

[Forethat]

"Cost of living may be much higher for expatriates than for local residents in a developing country, especially if expatriates expect a standard of living similar to a developed country."

yawwnnn... Wiki can't judge my standard of living but i can. and i know i wouldn't be able to uphold my present living standard in a "civilised" country without spending a multiple.

If we are to continue this conversation we need to establish the rules and definitions. What we are talking about here is whether there are certain things that are more expensive in LOS than in our home countries, and you keep on moaning about the stuff that's cheaper. Yes, massage is cheaper, but in all fairness, how many daily massages did the average expat have when they lived in their home country? Nah, I didn't think so. And how many maids did the average expat have when they have? Same there. Gardeners? You guessed it. <deleted>**, in all fairness, even the price of 1kg of papaya in UK is monstrous. I didn't eat much papaya back in UK, but here I do.

My dear Klingon, as an accountant, you should know the rules for communication and comparison. If we are talking about different things, we will never reach mutual understanding, it will just be a never ending confusion. Communication is key to progress, not only in Thailand. I am not saying that it's the definition itself that's important; we just need to agree on the interpretation of the conditions. You and I could, for instance, agree to call a movie ticket for a fat ugly prostitute wearing an undersized bunny costume, but I can guarantee that you'll have serious problems at the Paragon Cineplex box office.

Expensive, in this case, is a measurement of price level between Thailand and another country. What YOU are describing, is the level of expensiveness in relation to another item based on the condition that you have a certain amount of money.

Edited March 16, 2010 by Forethat

[Forethat]

Did he say he was going to spend 14.4 million baht on education for his children?

How many children does he have?

If you have an idea of the price levels for a good school in Thailand it should be fairly simple to figure out exactly how many kids I have.

Nevertheless, it's irrelevant for the issue.

The sad truth is that education is expensive in Thailand. VERY expensive if you want the same level of education as you get in your home country.

[ExpatJ]

Did he say he was going to spend 14.4 million baht on education for his children?

How many children does he have?

I understand where he is coming from..i pay just under 9,000 US dollar per year for my 4 year old sons pre-school in bangkok!!!!! But he loves it and i have an allowance from the company i work for for some of it..

[neverdie]

Did he say he was going to spend 14.4 million baht on education for his children?

How many children does he have?

If you have an idea of the price levels for a good school in Thailand it should be fairly simple to figure out exactly how many kids I have.

Nevertheless, it's irrelevant for the issue.

The sad truth is that education is expensive in Thailand. VERY expensive if you want the same level of education as you get in your home country.

Well sorry, I didnt realise that before posting here I had to ring up and obtain a quote for sending a child to school. I have absolutely NO IDEA how much it costs and can only be guided by you and others here.......so, are you going to help me out or continue with the smart comments? Its not irrelevant, because if its one child education @ 15 mil baht not including uni, I would say thats <deleted> expensive, if you have a dozen of them, well what did you expect?

Anyway, in anticipation of a more helpful reply, I thank you.

[Forethat]

Did he say he was going to spend 14.4 million baht on education for his children?

How many children does he have?

If you have an idea of the price levels for a good school in Thailand it should be fairly simple to figure out exactly how many kids I have.

Nevertheless, it's irrelevant for the issue.

The sad truth is that education is expensive in Thailand. VERY expensive if you want the same level of education as you get in your home country.

Well sorry, I didnt realise that before posting here I had to ring up and obtain a quote for sending a child to school. I have absolutely NO IDEA how much it costs and can only be guided by you and others here.......so, are you going to help me out or continue with the smart comments? Its not irrelevant, because if its one child education @ 15 mil baht not including uni, I would say thats <deleted> expensive, if you have a dozen of them, well what did you expect?

Anyway, in anticipation of a more helpful reply, I thank you.

http://www.isb.ac.th/Tuition_Fees/default.aspx

[elkangorito]

My apologies for being slightly off topic.

Back in 2005, the Director of my school (my place of work) asked me how much it would cost him to send his daughter to a university in Australia. To give a price differential, I compared two unis...Sydney & the University of Western Sydney.

At that time (2005), I was "up to date" with the cost of living in Australia so after spending about an hour on the internet, I provided 2 prices:

1] Sydney Uni - 2.1 million Baht per year.

2] U.W.S. - 1.5 million Baht per year.

Both of these figures included all course costs, living on campus & general living expenses.

Is living in Thailand expensive?

Not for me...but I'm single & I'm a teacher.

[Heng]

Thread should be retitled... 'Are you spending too much on dinner rolls? All replies welcome, whether you consume dinner rolls or not because I certainly do and you should too.'

[Naam]

1. My dear Klingon, as an accountant...

2. Expensive, in this case, is a measurement of price level between Thailand and another country. What YOU are describing, is the level of expensiveness in relation to another item based on the condition that you have a certain amount of money.

1. i am not an accountant but a retired physicist/mech.eng. and global investor who was used his whole life to deal with facts.

2. i am not interested in academic discussions which do not concern 99% of Farangs living in Thailand (no matter whether they have money or are living just above minimum existence level). if i feel like having an academic discussion i will ask my wife to give me another boring lecture in anthropology or one of the other breadless arts she got a summa cum laude degree.

3. what i learned in this forum is that it's futile to discuss living conditions / expenses / lifestyle in Thailand with people who have never lived here for an extended period of time and who judge Thailand based on years living in Königswusterhausen, Germany or Liverpool, UK or Redneck City, Alabama.

[David006]

In response to the OP's question.....

Getting too expensive for what...?

Staying in LOS ?

Maintaining standard of living?

Yes sure...things are increasing in price.. food, transportation, fuel , electric etc, etc, etc everything to do with the price of fish yes?

So?.."how to do?" as the wife unit is fond of saying..

NO increase in the price of heating , property tax or a good laugh though....

No solution comes to mind except becoming a monk....maybe that should be a new topic though?

[Forethat]

1. My dear Klingon, as an accountant...

2. Expensive, in this case, is a measurement of price level between Thailand and another country. What YOU are describing, is the level of expensiveness in relation to another item based on the condition that you have a certain amount of money.

1. i am not an accountant but a retired physicist/mech.eng. and global investor who was used his whole life to deal with facts.

2. i am not interested in academic discussions which do not concern 99% of Farangs living in Thailand (no matter whether they have money or are living just above minimum existence level). if i feel like having an academic discussion i will ask my wife to give me another boring lecture in anthropology or one of the other breadless arts she got a summa cum laude degree.

3. what i learned in this forum is that it's futile to discuss living conditions / expenses / lifestyle in Thailand with people who have never lived here for an extended period of time and who judge Thailand based on years living in Königswusterhausen, Germany or Liverpool, UK or Redneck City, Alabama.

Well, you've managed to fool me, that's for sure, and to be honest, probably everyone else here. So far, you haven't provided any hard facts at all. What you HAVE provided is a lot of irrelevant details about yourself, your wife, and hers and yours driver. And as if that wasn't enough; even your gardener linguistic abilities.

It is obvious to everyone who actually read our posts that I am the only one who's made attempts to actually provide this "hard fact" you mention.

As far as I'm concerned, if by bragging about your money, your investments, your cars and your success in avoiding to pay taxes in any country AND your wife's alleged academic abilities and knowledge in anthropology, you think that you are contributing to a discussion that concerns 99% of farangs that live in Thailand you are one of the following:

1. An imbecile

2. Pulling my leg

3. Not serious

The only thing that is for sure is that regardless of the answer to the question above, you are:

1. Wasting my time

2. Wasting everyone else's time

3. Still not providing any hard facts

So far I have provided details and empiric facts that clearly show that there are several items that are very, if not extremely, expensive in Thailand compared to my home country (and many others). Cars priced at 255% compared to UK, cost for education at a level that could finance an entire village in Thailand for years compared to the same education for FREE in your home country. And you still claim that as long as your gardner speaks two languages, the car is cheap??

Pardon my French, Klingon, despite the bilingual abilities of your gardner, the only language YOU seem to be capable of, is Gibberish, and I that is one of the languages I don't speak.

Edited March 17, 2010 by Forethat

[Abrak]

Well Forethat,

I think that for most people cost comparisons are individual. You see when it comes to cars, for instance, I would argue that an E series Merc with driver is roughly the same cost in Thailand as in Europe. And that an E Merc and driver is pretty much similar to having an SL in the UK. So a lot has how to do with how you view things - I rate not even to have to pick up my undies off the floor let alone wash and iron them pretty highly.

I would have thought that the cost argument is pretty cut and dried - Thailand comes off a lot better (unless under very special circumstances.)

The key problem for most people is that they cannot 'earn' the sort of living in Thailand that they can earn in the West. Thailand is an 'income' problem for most people rather than a 'cost' issue.

[Forethat]

I think that for most people cost comparisons are individual. You see when it comes to cars, for instance, I would argue that an E series Merc with driver is

That's probably where this discussion becomes meaningless, in case you haven't (and I presume you haven't) you should read my previous posts in this thread, then it would become clear that in this context - and every other context you can think of - you will not be able to save your carrots by refraining from eating potatoes.

Measuring whether this country is expensive in certain aspects is a simple thing, you take the price in, for instance Europe, and compare with the same item in Thailand. This seems to introduce a problem to some here, yourself included, who incist on making an adjustment to the comparison to make it favour the Thailand price. In this case, you add a driver. The real truth is that a driver is MUCH more expensive in Europe than in Thailand, and the car is more expensive here. MUCH more expensive. If your preference is to have a driver I will never be able to argue that you would be better of in Thailand than Europe, or you would at lest break even. But my point is, and it seems to be incredible hard for you guys to actually read and understand this fairly simple concept, that there are a lot of things that are more expensive in this country. The fact that you choose to buy something else doesn't make it any cheaper, sorry to break the illusion.

If we have to compare, we need to compare the same things. Read my previous posts and I'm sure it'll all come to you sooner or later.

Edited March 17, 2010 by Forethat

[neverdie]

Did he say he was going to spend 14.4 million baht on education for his children?

How many children does he have?

If you have an idea of the price levels for a good school in Thailand it should be fairly simple to figure out exactly how many kids I have.

Nevertheless, it's irrelevant for the issue.

The sad truth is that education is expensive in Thailand. VERY expensive if you want the same level of education as you get in your home country.

Well sorry, I didnt realise that before posting here I had to ring up and obtain a quote for sending a child to school. I have absolutely NO IDEA how much it costs and can only be guided by you and others here.......so, are you going to help me out or continue with the smart comments? Its not irrelevant, because if its one child education @ 15 mil baht not including uni, I would say thats <deleted> expensive, if you have a dozen of them, well what did you expect?

Anyway, in anticipation of a more helpful reply, I thank you.

http://www.isb.ac.th/Tuition_Fees/default.aspx

WOW, Holy <deleted>, thats expensive. Better option would be bording school in another country and occassionally fly the children over. Mental note to self......do not have children.

[Forethat]

WOW, Holy <deleted>, thats expensive. Better option would be bording school in another country and occassionally fly the children over. Mental note to self......do not have children.

There's another option, which is not uncommon amongst expats: they leave Thailand when the kids are about to start school. Another adjustment due to the expensiveness...

[TheItaliann]

Its quite funny that nobody in this thread has yet to mention the upside of being around family in your home country, especially considering what some might describe as an endless out pouring of love, respect and admiration by farang towards their Thai wife's (usually) very large immediate and secondary families and even the Thai family's pets and live stock.

I am currently in the process of planning a move back home for this very reason. You can't put a price on your mother squeezing her grand child against her chest.

[neverdie]

WOW, Holy <deleted>, thats expensive. Better option would be bording school in another country and occassionally fly the children over. Mental note to self......do not have children.

There's another option, which is not uncommon amongst expats: they leave Thailand when the kids are about to start school. Another adjustment due to the expensiveness...

How bout, skip education and send them to work in a shoe factory somewhere

[Forethat]

<br />

WOW, Holy &lt;deleted&gt;, thats expensive. Better option would be bording school in another country and occassionally fly the children over. Mental note to self......do not have children. <img src="http://static.thaivisa.com/forum/style_emoticons/default/dry.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid="<_<" border="0" alt="dry.gif" />

There's another option, which is not uncommon amongst expats: they leave Thailand when the kids are about to start school. Another adjustment due to the expensiveness... <img src="http://static.thaivisa.com/forum/style_emoticons/default/laugh.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid="" border="0" alt="laugh.gif" /> <br />

<br /><br />How bout, skip education and send them to work in a shoe factory somewhere <img src="http://static.thaivisa.com/forum/style_emoticons/default/laugh.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid="" border="0" alt="laugh.gif" /><br />

<br /><br /><br />lol

yea, at least it would be cheap. He**, you may even make a buck or two!

[richieudon]

I built a house last year. It cost me £60,000 whereas if I built it 6 months before it would have cost £42,000

What can you do? Life goes on... I dithered....som nam na...

I'm still happy. Spend more time at home. I found gardening....

On the flip side, you can't buy a parking space for £60,000 in London.. and it's cold...and beer is nearly £4 a pint.. and ....and ...and...

[Abrak]

I think that for most people cost comparisons are individual. You see when it comes to cars, for instance, I would argue that an E series Merc with driver is

That's probably where this discussion becomes meaningless, in case you haven't (and I presume you haven't) you should read my previous posts in this thread, then it would become clear that in this context - and every other context you can think of - you will not be able to save your carrots by refraining from eating potatoes.

Measuring whether this country is expensive in certain aspects is a simple thing, you take the price in, for instance Europe, and compare with the same item in Thailand. This seems to introduce a problem to some here, yourself included, who incist on making an adjustment to the comparison to make it favour the Thailand price. In this case, you add a driver. The real truth is that a driver is MUCH more expensive in Europe than in Thailand, and the car is more expensive here. MUCH more expensive. If your preference is to have a driver I will never be able to argue that you would be better of in Thailand than Europe, or you would at lest break even. But my point is, and it seems to be incredible hard for you guys to actually read and understand this fairly simple concept, that there are a lot of things that are more expensive in this country. The fact that you choose to buy something else doesn't make it any cheaper, sorry to break the illusion.

If we have to compare, we need to compare the same things. Read my previous posts and I'm sure it'll all come to you sooner or later.

Oh gee whiz.....

This topic is titled - is Thailand becoming too expensive?

If we reduce this title to 'if I can show that something in Thailand is more expensive than in a western country' I have shown that 'Thailand is too expensive' then, of course, you are right and in fact this is a totally meaningless conversation about a totally meaningless subject that we both know the answer to before we started it.

But, even though it is the internet, I do believe that a certain bottom line intelligence (beyond totally moronic) should be assumed. To argue that healthcare is not unreasonable here, even though it costs you money, against totally free in your home country (where free means crap) seems a perfectly reasonable argument. Obviously if I am arguing with someone who wishes to prove that free medicare is much cheaper than paid medicare by definition, then clearly I am the one who is being moronic here.

And, no, I havent read all your posts because, based on the current standard, I appear brain dead responding to one.

[Forethat]

I think that for most people cost comparisons are individual. You see when it comes to cars, for instance, I would argue that an E series Merc with driver is

That's probably where this discussion becomes meaningless, in case you haven't (and I presume you haven't) you should read my previous posts in this thread, then it would become clear that in this context - and every other context you can think of - you will not be able to save your carrots by refraining from eating potatoes.

Measuring whether this country is expensive in certain aspects is a simple thing, you take the price in, for instance Europe, and compare with the same item in Thailand. This seems to introduce a problem to some here, yourself included, who incist on making an adjustment to the comparison to make it favour the Thailand price. In this case, you add a driver. The real truth is that a driver is MUCH more expensive in Europe than in Thailand, and the car is more expensive here. MUCH more expensive. If your preference is to have a driver I will never be able to argue that you would be better of in Thailand than Europe, or you would at lest break even. But my point is, and it seems to be incredible hard for you guys to actually read and understand this fairly simple concept, that there are a lot of things that are more expensive in this country. The fact that you choose to buy something else doesn't make it any cheaper, sorry to break the illusion.

If we have to compare, we need to compare the same things. Read my previous posts and I'm sure it'll all come to you sooner or later.

Oh gee whiz.....

This topic is titled - is Thailand becoming too expensive?

If we reduce this title to 'if I can show that something in Thailand is more expensive than in a western country' I have shown that 'Thailand is too expensive' then, of course, you are right and in fact this is a totally meaningless conversation about a totally meaningless subject that we both know the answer to before we started it.

But, even though it is the internet, I do believe that a certain bottom line intelligence (beyond totally moronic) should be assumed. To argue that healthcare is not unreasonable here, even though it costs you money, against totally free in your home country (where free means crap) seems a perfectly reasonable argument. Obviously if I am arguing with someone who wishes to prove that free medicare is much cheaper than paid medicare by definition, then clearly I am the one who is being moronic here.

And, no, I havent read all your posts because, based on the current standard, I appear brain dead responding to one.

Well, before you start kicking in open doors, here's one I wrote about a century ago. I guess you didn't read this one?:

I thought this was a debate regarding prices and if they have increased, not a TOP 10 list for how to live cheap in Thailand, or if it is even possible; I am confident we all agree that if that is what you seek, you certainly came the right place.